Learning from Lives and Deaths – people with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR)

The Learning from Lives and Deaths – people with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR) programme, funded by NHS England and NHS Improvement, was established in 2017 to improve healthcare for people with a learning disability and autistic people. LeDeR aims to:

Improve care for people with a learning disability and autistic people.
Reduce health inequalities for people with a learning disability and autistic people.
Prevent people with a learning disability and autistic people from early deaths.

What is LeDeR?

LeDeR summarises the lives and deaths of people with a learning disability and autistic people who died in England in annual reports. The reports are made by researchers at King’s College London collaborating with academic partners at the University of Lancashire and Kingston University London, copies of which can be found below. Accessible versions, including a video summary of the findings are available, as are key “TakeHome” posters.

For previous years' reports, please see the tab "Previous years reports" at the bottom of this page. Please see the tab "Publications" for "Deep Dive" reports, and publications.

LeDeR Report 2023 (published September 2025)

We have been informed by NHS England of a technical issue within the data supplied by South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit that has impacted elements of the published LeDeR 2023 annual report. Our initial investigation has shown that this means some data on cause of death were missing when it should not have been. To be as accurate and as complete as possible, we want to include this additional information. In light of this, we are withdrawing the LeDeR 2023 annual report and intend to re-publish an updated version in January 2026.

For any queries: The Learning from lives and deaths – people with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR) is overseen by NHS England’s NHS England’s Learning disability and autism programme, which commissions King’s College London and our partners University of Lancashire and Kingston University to produce an annual report, an accessible report and materials, and regional reports, using data that has been notified to and processed by South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit on a separate contract with NHS England.

For contact details and further information please visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/learning-disabilities/improving-health/learning-from-lives-and-deaths/

Media Coverage

ITV News: 'He was neglected': Adults with learning disabilities dying 20 years early, report says

BBC News: Adults with learning disabilities die 20 years early, report finds

Royal College of Nursing: Learning from Lives and Deaths: A wake-up call about learning disability nursing

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation: People with learning disabilities are dying when their deaths are avoidable: moving from learning to action – CBF’s statement on the 2023 LeDeR report

Care Management Matters: 2023 LeDeR report published

BBC Access All radio programme: Disability News and Mental Health [19:21]

Evening Standard: Avoidable deaths among learning disabled adults still above general population

Our Partners

The main report and the accessible versions were produced in conjunction with our academic and community partners: The University of Central Lancashire, Kingston University London, Staying Alive and Well, Foundation for people with learning disabilities, Pathways Associates and the Estia Centre. More detail on the LeDeR report can be found on the NHS website.